How many fatalities have been attributed to right-wing extremism in the US between 2015 and 2025?

Checked on September 26, 2025
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1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, no source provides a precise count of fatalities attributed to right-wing extremism in the US between 2015 and 2025. However, the data reveals significant patterns about the lethality and scope of right-wing extremist violence during this period.

The most concrete figure comes from multiple sources indicating that right-wing attacks killed 112 victims in the past decade, compared to 13 victims from left-wing attacks [1] [2]. This represents a nearly 9-to-1 ratio in terms of lethality, demonstrating the disproportionate deadly impact of right-wing extremism compared to other forms of domestic terrorism.

Several sources consistently report that right-wing extremist violence has been responsible for approximately 75% to 80% of U.S. domestic terrorism deaths since 2001 [3]. This broader historical context suggests that right-wing extremism has maintained its position as the most lethal form of domestic terrorism throughout the period in question.

Specific high-casualty incidents mentioned include the 2015 Charleston church shooting, the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue attack, and the 2019 El Paso Walmart massacre [3], which collectively resulted in significant fatalities and occurred within the 2015-2025 timeframe. These attacks represent some of the deadliest domestic terrorist incidents in recent U.S. history.

Interestingly, the data shows a dramatic shift in 2025, with right-wing terror attacks plunging while left-wing attacks increased [2]. Five left-wing attacks or plots occurred in the first half of 2025 alone, marking what sources describe as historically high levels of left-wing terrorist activity [1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several critical gaps in understanding the full scope of right-wing extremist fatalities between 2015 and 2025. None of the sources provide a comprehensive, year-by-year breakdown of fatalities specifically within this decade-long period, making it impossible to answer the original question with precision.

The data lacks important contextual information about how fatalities are categorized and attributed to right-wing extremism. One source mentions that about 35% of the 231 domestic terrorism incidents between 2010 and 2021 were racially- or ethnically-motivated [4], but this doesn't clearly distinguish between right-wing and other forms of extremism, nor does it provide fatality counts.

Definitional challenges emerge from the analyses, particularly regarding what constitutes "right-wing extremism" versus other categories like "racially-motivated" or "anti-government" violence. The sources indicate that anti-government extremism motivated 17 of 41 left-wing incidents since 2016 [1], suggesting that ideological boundaries can be complex and overlapping.

The temporal scope of available data varies significantly across sources. While some reference "the past decade," others use different timeframes, making direct comparisons difficult. The 2025 data appears incomplete, covering only the first half of the year, which could skew interpretations of recent trends.

Geographic and demographic breakdowns are notably absent from the analyses, providing no insight into regional patterns, victim demographics, or the specific communities most affected by right-wing extremist violence during this period.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself contains no apparent misinformation or bias - it simply requests factual data about fatalities attributed to right-wing extremism within a specific timeframe. However, the question's framing assumes that such precise data exists and is readily available, which the analyses demonstrate is not the case.

The absence of exact figures in the available sources suggests that either comprehensive tracking systems for domestic terrorism fatalities don't exist, or that different organizations use varying methodologies for categorization and counting. This data gap itself represents a significant limitation in understanding the true scope of right-wing extremist violence.

Potential bias could emerge in how different organizations define and categorize extremist violence. The sources appear to come from established research institutions and news organizations, but the lack of specific publication dates for most analyses makes it difficult to assess the currency and reliability of the data.

The dramatic reported shift in 2025 - with right-wing attacks plunging and left-wing attacks rising - warrants scrutiny, as such sudden changes in terrorism patterns are unusual and could reflect changes in data collection methods, definitions, or reporting practices rather than actual shifts in extremist activity.

Want to dive deeper?
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How does the number of fatalities from right-wing extremism compare to other forms of terrorism in the US between 2015 and 2025?
Which right-wing extremist groups have been responsible for the most fatalities in the US during this time period?
What role has social media played in the spread of right-wing extremist ideologies in the US between 2015 and 2025?
How have US law enforcement agencies responded to the threat of right-wing extremism since 2015?